Scorpion Pattern Replacing US Army's Digitized Camouflage Fatigues?

The Scorpion pattern has reportedly been selected by the U.S. Army to replace the branch's current digitized camouflage fatigues, also known as the Universal Camouflage Pattern.

The uniform switch has apparently been confirmed by high ranking personnel within the Army, who told Military.com that Sgt. Major of the Army Raymond Chandler III has been quietly telling all of the senior sergeant majors around the Army that the service’s new camouflage will be Scorpion.

The Scorpion pattern is said to be similar to the MuliCam pattern that had been developed in 2002 for the Objective Force Warrior program.

According to Military.com, the decision to go forward with the Scorpion pattern over the MuliCam pattern came down to dollar and cents, considering the Army already had the rights to use the Scorpion pattern and the MuliCam pattern was being offered to the Army with a price tag of $25 million by the Crye Associates, the equipment company that created both patterns.

Despite the report of the uniform change, the Army has yet to confirm the switch.

The reported decision to alter its uniform patter came after the service underwent "the most extensive uniform camouflage testing in history" in March, Col. Robert F. Mortlock, project manager for Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment, told Stripes.com.

"We have testimonials from soldiers in theater close enough to the enemy to hear them saying they can’t see the American [when they’re wearing the new camouflage patterns]. That’s powerful. That’s a combat multiplier," Mortlock added. "The bottom line is the enemy can’t kill, hurt or injure who they can’t see."

While the reported change represents a revision in pattern, it does not represent an overall uniform change Mortlock pointed out, adding, "We’re not changing the combat uniform. It’ll still be called the Army Combat Uniform. All that we’re doing is updating the camouflage."